WATCH: Senator Markey floor remarks on need to protect children’s online privacy: “More addiction = more data = more money for Big Tech”

In 2022, major Big Tech platforms earned nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S. users under age 18 

Washington (July 25, 2024) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and original House author of the Children and Teen Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), today delivered remarks on the Senate floor calling for passage of his bipartisan, bicameral Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act 2.0 (COPPA 2.0), legislation that would update online data privacy rules for the 21st century to ensure children and teenagers are protected online. The Senate is expected to vote early next week on final passage of the legislation. Senator Markey first introduced this legislation to update his original COPPA law in 2011 as a member of the House of Representatives. 

Below are excerpts from Senator Markey’s floor remarks today:

“The core problem facing children and teens is Big Tech’s relentless and unyielding drive to accumulate more and more data on its users. 

“The formula is simple: More time on social media means more data to fuel the targeted advertising machine means more profits for Big Tech. 

“More addiction = more data = more money. 

“And it is a lot of money. In 2022, the major Big Tech platforms earned nearly $11 billion in advertising revenue from U.S. users under age 18. $11 billion. 

“That’s 11 billion reasons to build ever more sophisticated data profiles on younger users, 11 billion reasons to develop new, addictive features, 11 billion reasons to keep our young people clicking, swiping, and liking. 

“With the growth of artificial intelligence, Big Tech’s appetite for data has never been greater. And that means the privacy of our young people has never been more at risk.” 

Specifically, COPPA 2.0 would

1. Ban targeted advertising to children and teens;

1. Prohibit platforms from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent;

1. Revise COPPA’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their site;

1. Create an “Eraser Button” that allows for children and teens to delete their personal information; and

1. Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data.

COPPA 2.0 is supported by more than 100 organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense Media, Design It For Us, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action, Fairplay, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, and U.S. PIRG.

In April 2024, Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05) and Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced the House companion to COPPA 2.0. In February 2024, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, agreed to cosponsor COPPA 2.0. In July 2023, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.

###